Guitarmusic
Member
Is there a big difference between a 26.5" or a 27" scale length for a 7 string?
26.5" vs 27" inch scale?
- Thread starter Guitarmusic
- Start date
Re: 26.5" vs 27" inch scale?
half inch
edit; real answer now,,,,,
If you think about it, the standard scales were probably chosen as an ergonomic compromise of various physical factors.
Some of the factors considered were probably the ability to be played low and high, and of course average hand and body size.
27" might well be more ideal than 26.5" for someone 6'6" with big hands.(Micheal Jordan for a bad analogy)
Most of us automatically assume longer scale is going to make things more challenging, but that's not always the case.
It also depends if you're a shredder, riffer, both, or a big wide barre/open chorder for clean stuff.
For me, Gibson scale is about perfect but I've always been a floyded super-strat guy, so my options are much better settling for 25.5".
Carvin's 25" (PRS-scale) is a really good match for my hands and my tuning/gauge preferences.
So for me, 26.5" would suck, and 27" would suck a half inch more.
half inch
edit; real answer now,,,,,
If you think about it, the standard scales were probably chosen as an ergonomic compromise of various physical factors.
Some of the factors considered were probably the ability to be played low and high, and of course average hand and body size.
27" might well be more ideal than 26.5" for someone 6'6" with big hands.(Micheal Jordan for a bad analogy)
Most of us automatically assume longer scale is going to make things more challenging, but that's not always the case.
It also depends if you're a shredder, riffer, both, or a big wide barre/open chorder for clean stuff.
For me, Gibson scale is about perfect but I've always been a floyded super-strat guy, so my options are much better settling for 25.5".
Carvin's 25" (PRS-scale) is a really good match for my hands and my tuning/gauge preferences.
So for me, 26.5" would suck, and 27" would suck a half inch more.
Last edited:
DavidRavenMoon
New member
Re: 26.5" vs 27" inch scale?
Longer scales sound different. They tend to be brighter with more twang. It’s one of the reasons putting a humbucker on a Strat doesn’t make it sound like a Gibson.
For lower tunings the longer scales allow the string to tune to pitch with a thinner diameter. This is why the same gauge set of strings feel looser on a Gibson scale length.
1/2” probably won’t be that noticeable.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Longer scales sound different. They tend to be brighter with more twang. It’s one of the reasons putting a humbucker on a Strat doesn’t make it sound like a Gibson.
For lower tunings the longer scales allow the string to tune to pitch with a thinner diameter. This is why the same gauge set of strings feel looser on a Gibson scale length.
1/2” probably won’t be that noticeable.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
DavidRavenMoon
New member
Re: 26.5" vs 27" inch scale?
Don’t play bass then! Lol
Most are 34” scale lengths. When they get longer than that I feel the same way. It’s a long stretch to the first fret!
Upright basses are about 42”! But the vertical position helps.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Don’t play bass then! Lol
Most are 34” scale lengths. When they get longer than that I feel the same way. It’s a long stretch to the first fret!
Upright basses are about 42”! But the vertical position helps.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: 26.5" vs 27" inch scale?
Here is a bass that a friend of mine built : 47-44" multiscale.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7E26hmwu5I
For any north european downtune weirdos he accepts orders
.
Here is a bass that a friend of mine built : 47-44" multiscale.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7E26hmwu5I
For any north european downtune weirdos he accepts orders
.
Last edited:
Guitarmusic
Member
Re: 26.5" vs 27" inch scale?
Thank you for all the replies! I don’t don’t tune lower than a half step down so I think 26.5 would be fine. I was going to buy this guitar and was curious about the difference of the 27 inch scale.
http://www.schecterguitars.com/guitars/banshee-extreme/banshee-7-extreme-charcoal-burst-detail
Thank you for all the replies! I don’t don’t tune lower than a half step down so I think 26.5 would be fine. I was going to buy this guitar and was curious about the difference of the 27 inch scale.
http://www.schecterguitars.com/guitars/banshee-extreme/banshee-7-extreme-charcoal-burst-detail
Re: 26.5" vs 27" inch scale?
Bass looks stupid on short guys like me anyways. There should be a 6' requirement if only for cosmetics.
No really, bass never gave me any issues because there isn't the big chords,,,,,,,,it was always all single notes for me.
Bass looks stupid on short guys like me anyways. There should be a 6' requirement if only for cosmetics.
No really, bass never gave me any issues because there isn't the big chords,,,,,,,,it was always all single notes for me.
Re: 26.5" vs 27" inch scale?
There are some but it's still somewhat limiting when compared to F-scales.
When I came up though it was basically whatever one could find hanging at the local shop out here in hogtown USA. (pre-web days)
There are some but it's still somewhat limiting when compared to F-scales.
When I came up though it was basically whatever one could find hanging at the local shop out here in hogtown USA. (pre-web days)
Singularity
New member
Re: 26.5" vs 27" inch scale?
My understanding is if you utilize drop tunings, a longer scale is more appropriate due to the fact the strings remain at a higher tension. The shorter the scale, the less tension on the strings.
My hands are what I would consider normal size and yet I find it more difficult to play chords and to solo on a Strat (25.5 scale) verses a Les Paul (24.75 scale). The fret spacing on a Strat is larger which makes for more finger stretching. Its do-able for me but find the smaller scale on the LP easier to play. However, the drop "D" tuning and DADGAD tunings work fine on the smaller scale Les Paul using string gauge 11's.
Differences between a 26.5" and 27" scale length? 27" remains under more tension and helps especially with preventing the 7th string from flopping-out in lower tunings. Best to try both scales with the same string gauge. These longer scale lengths must be brutal to navigate!
My understanding is if you utilize drop tunings, a longer scale is more appropriate due to the fact the strings remain at a higher tension. The shorter the scale, the less tension on the strings.
My hands are what I would consider normal size and yet I find it more difficult to play chords and to solo on a Strat (25.5 scale) verses a Les Paul (24.75 scale). The fret spacing on a Strat is larger which makes for more finger stretching. Its do-able for me but find the smaller scale on the LP easier to play. However, the drop "D" tuning and DADGAD tunings work fine on the smaller scale Les Paul using string gauge 11's.
Differences between a 26.5" and 27" scale length? 27" remains under more tension and helps especially with preventing the 7th string from flopping-out in lower tunings. Best to try both scales with the same string gauge. These longer scale lengths must be brutal to navigate!
DavidRavenMoon
New member
Re: 26.5" vs 27" inch scale?
Bass looks like a bass. It’s a big guitar.
I’m only 5’5”. Never bothered me.
Yeah more than double stops don’t work on bass very well. Maybe three note chords up high.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bass looks like a bass. It’s a big guitar.
I’m only 5’5”. Never bothered me.
Yeah more than double stops don’t work on bass very well. Maybe three note chords up high.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: 26.5" vs 27" inch scale?
I've seen a commonly deep-discounted LTD in superstrat format, a model called MG-750
As to ESP-ESP, the relatively common 90s bolt-on Eclipse FRs and Viper FRs were thin, light, superstrat-blooded 24.75" shredders, just in alternative body shapes... although later eclipses are much more gibson-ey, and a few interim ones were actually 25.5" for some reason
I've seen a commonly deep-discounted LTD in superstrat format, a model called MG-750
As to ESP-ESP, the relatively common 90s bolt-on Eclipse FRs and Viper FRs were thin, light, superstrat-blooded 24.75" shredders, just in alternative body shapes... although later eclipses are much more gibson-ey, and a few interim ones were actually 25.5" for some reason
Re: 26.5" vs 27" inch scale?
I do like the floyded eclipse designs, especially the black with gold hardware like the recent LTD NGD thread where he swapped in the gold Het-set.
Hate the viper look though,,,,,reminds me of batman, and i hate batman,,,,,and don't even get me started on robin.
Anyways I found my thrill with the Carvin 25" scale and made-to-order specs. Luckily my orders were completed just before the name change and price bumps.
I do like the floyded eclipse designs, especially the black with gold hardware like the recent LTD NGD thread where he swapped in the gold Het-set.
Hate the viper look though,,,,,reminds me of batman, and i hate batman,,,,,and don't even get me started on robin.
Anyways I found my thrill with the Carvin 25" scale and made-to-order specs. Luckily my orders were completed just before the name change and price bumps.
